Rodgers, Packers overcome 5 sacks in shutout of Lions

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Donald Driver made his mark in franchise history, and rookie linebacker Clay Matthews III had a breakout performance to help the defense post a shutout.

Mr. Rodgers Neighborhood

The Lions didn't have a chance in the first half at Lambeau Field. QB Aaron Rodgers helped Green Bay take a 23-0 lead by completing 19 of 23 passes. However, he was sacked four times. Rodgers now has been sacked an NFL-leading 25 times.

Rodgers First Half In 2009

1st 4 games

Sunday vs. DET

Cmp pct

62.9

82.6

TD-Int

3-1

2-0

Yds/Gm

131

221

Passer Rtg

90.9

135.7

-- ESPN Stats and Information

Still, the Green Bay Packers know what worked in Sunday's 26-0 victory over a Detroit Lions team playing its third-string quarterback won't necessarily get them where they want to be at the end of the season.

Green Bay's offensive line gave up five more sacks in yet another shaky performance, left tackle Chad Clifton hurt his ankle again and the Packers (3-2) left plenty of points on the field in the red zone.

"When you're playing a team that maybe has a little more experienced offense, we're going to have to cash in those opportunities for seven, not three," Aaron Rodgers said. "Because those are big momentum swings in a game."

Fast Facts

• The Lions have now lost three straight since snapping their 19-game losing streak.

• Detroit has also now lost eight in a row to the Packers and 18 straight to the Packers in Wisconsin.

• The Packers shut out the Lions for the first time since 1946.

• Donald Driver had seven receptions for 107 yards, passing Sterling Sharpe for first place on Green Bay's all-time receptions list along the way. Driver now has 602 receptions. Sharpe had 596.

"It couldn't it come in a better place -- at home in front of the fans I've played in front of for so many years," Driver said, holding the record-setting ball in the locker room. "It feels good. Now I just have to wait on Sterling to call me and congratulate me."

Matthews had two sacks as the Packers turned in a commanding defensive effort against an undermanned Lions offense.

Detroit (1-5) was without rookie quarterback Matthew Stafford and wide receiver Calvin Johnson because of injuries -- and it showed, as the Lions managed only 79 yards of total offense in the first half and 149 for the game.

"It's very disappointing, very frustrating," Culpepper said. "It's embarrassing to me not to be able to move it on the field and get points on the board. We've got to figure out a way to do that, simple as that."

The Lions came into this season with a new coach and a new attitude, but so far have only one win to show for it going into a bye week. Detroit also has lost 19 straight games in the state of Wisconsin -- including last year's painful loss at Lambeau Field that sealed their 0-16 season.

Sunday was a wild romp for a Packers defense that has struggled at times with the transition to Dom Capers' 3-4 defense this season.

Green Bay had five sacks and interceptions by defensive lineman Cullen Jenkins, cornerback Al Harris and safety Atari Bigby, who returned to the field after missing three games with a knee injury.

"Guys were ready to play today," safety Nick Collins said. "We just had fun and flew to the ball all over the place. That was a lot of fun out there."

But the Lions' loss wasn't nearly as lopsided as it could have been, thanks in large part to continued breakdowns and penalties by the Packers' offensive line.

Rodgers put two quick touchdowns on the board, the first a 47-yarder to James Jones and the second 1-yard pass to fullback John Kuhn. But the offense fell into a lull after that, at one point settling for four straight field goals on drives inside the Detroit 30-yard line.

"It feels like a 50 to zero game, but we didn't quite get there," cornerback Tramon Williams said. "I felt we should've put more points on the board."

Things got even worse in the third quarter for the Lions, when Culpepper hurt his hamstring on a scramble and Stanton took over.

Stanton's second series resulted in an interception by Harris off a deflection and the Packers' offense appeared to get back on track when Driver made a one-handed catch on a deep pass by Rodgers. The Packers drove to the Lions 3, but Rodgers was sacked and fumbled on first-and-goal to scuttle yet another chance at a touchdown.

Even worse, Clifton came up limping after the play and left the game. Packers coach Mike McCarthy confirmed that Clifton re-injured the ankle that kept him out of the previous two games, but a timeline for his return remains unclear.

Game notes

It was the Packers' first shutout since a November 2007 home game against Minnesota. ... Driver has caught a pass in each of his last 116 games, also a Packers' franchise mark. ... Packers WR Jordy Nelson bruised his knee in the first quarter and did not return, but McCarthy said X-rays were negative. ... Lions LB Julian Peterson had 2 1/2 sacks. ... Mason Crosby's four field goals tied a career high.